Dear Kate Use the Children Act 1989. A neonate is a person in his own right. When we count staff ratios we must count mother and baby as 2 people. Therefore midwives ratios on postnatal wards cannot be classified in the same way as nurses. In addition, use Birthrate Plus(Jean Ball and Marie Washbrook). This is a unique workforce planning tool that takes into account midwife 'hours' per type of case. If you have not already participated in a pilot for this see if you can arrange for your unit to get involved. Invite Marie Washbrook to come and discuss it with your HoM. As midwives we need to get wise and use all the avenues to ensure we are not left continually short of staff so that we cannot deliver quality care . Best wihses Belinda --- Kate Spenceley <[log in to unmask]> wrote: --------------------------------- Hi Carolyn and Sue I would also like any information about allocation of midwives in the post-natal area. In the hospital where I am employed, we are being questioned about our staff/woman ratios as the babies do not feature in the numbers. We are arguing that both the woman and the baby should feature in the care ratios(logically!!) so I would be very grateful for any information I can use to support this. IS Kate Spenceley >From: Sue Calvert >Reply-To: "A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research." >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Numbers game >Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 12:06:23 +1200 > >Hi Carolyn > >There is a UK pulbication: Towards safer childbirth minimum standards for organisation of labour wards which also refers to audit commission report. First class delivery. >There the good practice standard was 1.15 midwives to one woman in labour. >Also there is a Victorian (OZ) publication that sets standards for ante and postnatal care as well as staffing levels throughout the hosptital. It is distributed by the union i think. > >Cheers > >Sue > >Susan Calvert >Clinical Midwife Specialist >Capital & Coast District Health Board >Women's Health Service >Riddiford Street (Private Bag 7902) >Wellington South > >Phone: +64 4 3855999 x 6187 >Fax +64 4 3855484 >Pager 2089 > > >>> [log in to unmask] 06/26/03 11:51AM >>> >Hello colleagues, > >I am wondering if anyone knows anywhere that allocates women and >midwives according to benchmark (and if there is a benchmark written >anywhere) figures of one to one care in active labour and four women and >babies (that is eight people) to one midwife within post natal ward >care. > >Apart from Jean Ball's work, has anyone any articles, research >information etc about the appropriate/ideal allocation within a hospital >setting? This is separate from the midwifery model of care and >caseload issue. > >All leads, comments, articles recommended gratefully received. > >warmly, Carolyn > >Carolyn Hastie >Midwifery Educator >John Hunter Hospital >Locked Bag No 1 >Newcastle Mail Exchange 2310 >Phone 02 49214462 >Mobile 0418 428 430 >Paging ring JHH 4921 3000, page # 5528 >Email [log in to unmask] > >"The world is wide. I will not waste my life in friction when it could >be turned into momentum." > - Frances >Willard > > >This message is intended for the addressee named >and may contain confidential information. > >If you are not the intended recipient, please >delete it and notify the sender. > >Views expressed in this message are those of the >individual sender, and are not necessarily the >views of Hunter Health. > >C&C DHB Secure Mail Server >******************************************************************************** > >[INFO] -- Virus Manager: >No Viruses were detected in this message. > >******************************************************************************** > > > >C&C DHB Secure Mail Server >******************************************************************************** >This email or attachment(s) may contain confidential or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the addressee(s). Any use, redistribution, disclosure, or reproduction of this message, except as intended, is prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender and remove all copies of the message, including any attachments. Any views or opinions expressed in this email (unless otherwise stated) may not represent those of Capital and Coast District Health Board. (AC_S001) > > >[INFO] -- Virus Manager: >No Viruses were detected in this message. > >******************************************************************************** --------------------------------- Surf the net and talk on the phone with Xtra Jetstream! ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/